5 things you didn't know about the Carnival of Venice

Are you going to make the Carnival of Venice soon? This is 5 facts that you may not know about this world-famous event.

Many tourists are going to party at the party Carnival of Venice From the first week (usually mid-February), but the premises and regulars of this masked event know that to actually have fun, you have to go for the second week. In 2017, the Carnival of Venice will begin on February 11 (with the pre-Carnival), but the event will beat its full from Sunday, February 18th until Tuesday, February 28.

We give you five things to know about this year's events:

1. The carnival doesn't really start until the second week

You think you missed something? Just a minute. As a prologue, the carnival will begin on February 11, 2017 with a show on the water from 6pm with boats decorated on the Cannaregio Canal. But the key events of Carnevale only happen next week. In fact, you will probably be disappointed if you come to Venice on the first day of the carnival: Piazza San Marco is still in the process of preparing the weekend activities and there is simply nothing to see. Of course, nothing prevents you from visit Venice This week.

The contest of the most beautiful Carnival costume starts at noon on Place Saint-Marc on Saturday, February 18. It is followed at 2:30 p.m. by the procession of the Festival of Marys (From the Basilica of San Pietro di Castello and then through Via Garibaldi, along the basin of Saint Mark and arriving at the Place Saint Mark). Parades, banquets, concerts and fireworks will beat the evening.

If you can only leave for a week at the Carnival of Venice, the organizers strongly recommend coming from Wednesday 22 February to Wednesday 1 March (the day of the last evening), the most important part of the carnival, when all the festivities of the carnival Grand Final take place.

2. Children are surprisingly welcome

Historically, the Carnival of Venice was an event where the aristocrats and Venetian peasants put their masks on the time to feast together before the fasting of Lent, where the bacchanales reached their paroxysm. Then we stayed between adults... But the times have changed, and Venice is no longer a den of illicit activities during the Carnival. In fact, it has become a quite family event.

There are rinks in Campo San Polo and Piazza Ferretto. Two carnivals for children take place in Zelarino (a city 18km from Venice) on 25 and 28 February at 3pm. And there is even a children's edition of the famous contest of the most beautiful costume on Monday, February 27.

3. The costumes are not only reserved for the Venetians

Don’t be a simple spectator in front of one of the many workshops in the city and rent a suit designed for about 50 € per day. Although competition is tough, you can even try your luck and enter the costume contest for free.

Workshops Pietro Longhi and Banco Lotto rent and sell beautiful refined historical costumes, Harlequin-to-tile combinations, Belle-Époque-style glitter dresses and huge feathered hairs, even if you can find workshops that meet all tastes. Procurate at least one tabarro (Venitian coat) and a mask in a mascarei traditional, found everywhere in the city.

Note that the shops are assaulted weeks in advance and that you may not find what you want. The ideal is then to appeal to an external agency for book a suit before your arrival .

4. The hotels offer the best evenings

Although Piazza San Marco is the anchor of the official activities of the Carnival, the hotels host some of the best events throughout the city. The goal is to stay in a hotel close to Piazza San Marco to have easy access to all events (it is essential during the last two weekends of Carnevale). Hotel Monaco & Grand Canal welcomes for example a dinner show in costume just like hotel Danieli .

There are also masked balls, such as those of Palazzo Bernardo or Palazzo Pisani Moretta .

5. The heart of the carnival really beats in Arsenale

We said, Piazza San Marco is the hub of the Carnevale , but all good Venetian will tell you that the real party is happening at Arsenale di Venezia , historic and spectacular shipyard of the city. Here you will find concerts of all types of music, evenings of madness and fireworks almost every night during the last two weeks of the Carvanal of Venice. Although the Piazza hosts the main events of the Carnevale, the arsenal of Venice is the place where the festival takes life, especially after 9pm until 4am. This is clearly where you have to go out during the carnival.

The entry to most events will cost you 15 €. It is necessary to inquire on site. This is also where the official gala dinner of the Carnival of Venice .

Main photo credit: Flickr – David Sifry